Police said they received several calls around 8 p.m. about a large man in khaki shorts chasing people around with a knife in the area of Taunton Green. All available units were dispatched to assist, police said.

Detective Patrolman Eric Moura, who was first on scene, said he saw Vieira holding a knife in his right hand with its point facing down and walking quickly on the sidewalk across from Taunton Green near El Mariachi restaurant.

Vieira reportedly ignored Moura, who had turned on his blue lights, and crossed the street two-car lengths in front of the officer’s cruiser toward the alley-walkway known as Knotty Walk.

Moura said he pulled his gun and followed Vieira, ordering him to stop and get on the ground. Vieira allegedly stopped, tucked the knife in his pants, turned around and began walking toward the officer.

Moura says he switched tactics, drawing his Taser and warning Vieira he would be Tased if he didn’t stop and lay on the ground.

When Vieira failed to comply, Moura said he fired the Taser’s two projectiles into Vieira’s chest and stomach. Vieira was incapacitated and fell to the ground.

Detective Patrolman Shawn Mulhern arrived and helped Moura handcuff Vieira, who allegedly continued to struggle. Police said they retrieved a folding knife from his front pocket.

Vieira allegedly told the officers he’d been “chasing down a guy” he suspected of stealing his mother’s blood-pressure pills. Police said it was more probable he was upset over a drug transaction that had gone bad.

Vieira was on probation for a prior conviction of larceny over $250 and had missed a probation violation hearing the day before. He allegedly refused medical attention and ripped out the probes before police could document the Taser episode.

He was arraigned Friday in Taunton District Court and ordered held without bail until an Aug. 1 probation violation hearing. In ordering that he be held, the judge noted Vieira’s history of defaults and prior convictions.